Imaging device having a rotatable optical element

ABSTRACT

An imaging device includes an imaging optical system including an image pickup device; a rotatable optical element which is positioned in the imaging optical system, and is rotated on a rotation axis extending in an optical axis direction to produce a specific photographic effect; and a controller which operates so that image data is obtained intermittently via the image pickup device at a plurality of angular steps of the rotatable optical element when the rotatable optical element is rotated on the rotation axis.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an imaging device having a rotatable specific-effect optical element such as a polarizing filter that produces a specific photographic effect when positioned in an optical path of a photographing optical system and rotated in this optical path.

2. Description of the Related Art

In rotatable optical elements such as a polarizing filter and a cross filter, which give a specific photographic effect to an object image when operated to rotate, the photographer manually rotates the rotatable optical element to adjust the rotational position thereof while viewing the object image through a viewfinder or the object image indicated on a display panel such as an LCD panel.

In digital cameras, the amount of processing data tends to increase with an increase in pixel density, and accordingly, consideration must be given to the time necessary for image processing. For instance, in the case where a rotatable specific-effect optical element such as a polarizing filter is incorporated in a digital camera, a heavy load is put on a processing circuit provided therein if a display image update process is consecutively performed at all times while keeping up with the rotation of the rotatable specific-effect optical element. Depending on the situation, time delays in image processing may cause a time lag to occur between the image displayed on a display panel, which is viewed by the photographer, and the rotational position of the rotatable specific-effect optical element, or may slow down the photographing response at a time of exposure. In additions under circumstances where the object image indicated on a display panel consecutively changes, it is difficult for even the photographer to have sufficient time to determine an optimum rotational position of the rotatable specific-effect optical element.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an imaging device having a rotatable specific-effect optical element, wherein the imaging device has a superior operating response due to having a small imaging-processing load, and the rotatable specific-effect optical element has superior operational ability for the user (photographer).

According to an aspect of the present invention, an imaging device is provided, including an imaging optical system including an image pickup device; a rotatable optical element which is positioned in the imaging optical system, and is rotated on a rotation axis extending in an optical axis direction to produce a specific photographic effect; and a controller which operates so that image data is obtained intermittently via the image pickup device at a plurality of angular steps of the rotatable optical element when the rotatable optical element is rotated on the rotation axis.

It is desirable for the imaging device to include a rotation controller which drives the rotatable optical element and controls rotation of the rotatable optical element so that the rotatable optical element rotates stepwise while coming to a halt at each of the plurality of angular steps of the rotatable optical element.

It is desirable for the imaging device to include a rotation controller which drives the rotatable optical element and slows down rotational speed of the rotatable optical element at each of the plurality of angular steps of the rotatable optical element.

It is desirable for the imaging device to include a display device which visually indicates an electronic image of the image data obtained via the image pickup device.

It is desirable for the rotatable optical element to be a circular photographic filter.

It is desirable for the rotational axis, on which the rotatable optical element is rotated, to be substantially coincident with an optical axis of the imaging optical system.

It is desirable for the imaging device to be a digital camera.

In an embodiments an imaging device is provided, including an imaging optical system including an image pickup device; a rotatable optical element which is positioned in the imaging optical system, and is rotated on a rotation axis extending in an optical axis direction to produce a specific photographic effect; and a controller which controls rotation of the rotatable optical element so that the rotatable optical element rotates stepwise in a manner to allow the rotatable optical element to stop at each of a plurality of angular steps of the rotatable optical element, and operates to obtain image data via the image pickup device upon the rotatable optical element reaching a rotating stop position of one of the plurality of angular steps, wherein the controller operates so as not to perform image processing on the image data when the rotatable optical element is positioned at any angular position of rotation thereof until reaching the rotating stop position.

In an embodiment, an imaging device is provided, including an imaging optical system including an image pickup device; a rotatable optical element positioned in the imaging optical system to produce a specific photographic effect; and a controller which operates so that image data is obtained intermittently via the image pickup device when the rotatable optical element is rotated on the rotation axis.

According to the present invention, an imaging device having a rotatable specific-effect optical element is achieved, wherein the imaging device has a superior operating response due to the load on image processing being small, and it is easy for the photographer to determine the rotational position of the rotatable specific-effect optical element.

The present disclosure relates to subject matter contained in Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-212086 (filed on Jul. 22, 2005) which is expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an embodiment of a digital camera according to the present invention, wherein the digital camera includes a zoom lens incorporating a polarizing filter, showing the zoom lens in a ready-to-photo state thereof;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the digital camera shown in FIG. 1, showing the zoom lens in the fully-retracted state;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the zoom lens shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 when the zoom lens is at the telephoto extremity;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the zoom lens shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 when the zoom lens is at the wide-angle extremity;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the zoom lens shown in FIG. 2, in which the zoom lens is in the fully-retracted state;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of another portion of the zoom lens shown in FIG. 2, in which the zoom lens is in the fully-retracted state;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the zoom lens (the entire retractable zoom lens unit) in the same state as that shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 8A is an exploded perspective view of elements of the zoom lens shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 8B is a perspective view of the elements of the zoom lens shown in FIG. 8A in an assembled state;

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of portions of the zoom lens shown in FIG. 8A, showing elements of a support mechanism for supporting the first lens group of the zoom lens;

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of portions of the zoom lens shown in FIG. 8A, showing elements of a support mechanism for supporting the second lens group and the polarizing filter;

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of portions of the zoom lens shown in FIG. 8A, showing elements of an advancing/retracting mechanism of the zoom lens from a stationary barrel to a third external barrel;

FIG. 12 is a developed view of the stationary barrel shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a developed view of a helicoid ring shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 is a developed view of the third external barrel shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 15 is a developed view of a first linear guide ring shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 16 is a developed view of a cam ring shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 17 is a developed view of the cam ring shown in FIG. 10, showing inner cam grooves (for moving the second lens group), formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cam ring, by broken lines;

FIG. 18 is a developed view of a second external barrel shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 19 is a developed view of a first external barrel shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 20 is a developed view of a second linear guide ring shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 21 is a developed view of a second lens group moving frame shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 22 is a block diagram of electrical components of the digital camera shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, showing connections among the electrical components;

FIG. 23 is an exploded perspective view of a mechanism shown in FIG. 10 provided for driving the polarizing filter;

FIG. 24 is a sectional view of an insertable/retractable filter holding frame and a filter holding ring which holds the polarizing filter, taken along a plane orthogonal to the photographing optical axis of the zoom lens;

FIG. 25 is a perspective view of elements of the zoom lens shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in a state where the zoom lens is in a ready-to-photograph state and where the polarizing filter is in a radially retracted position (off-axis position) thereof, viewed obliquely from the rear of the zoom lens;

FIG. 26 is a view similar to that of FIG. 25, showing the elements shown in FIG. 25 in addition to the second lens group moving frame shown in FIGS. 10 and 21;

FIG. 27 is a view similar to that of FIG. 25, showing the elements shown in FIG. 25 in a state where the zoom lens is in a ready-to-photograph state and where the polarizing filter is in an inserted position (on-axis position) thereof, viewed obliquely from the rear of the zoom lens;

FIG. 28 is a view similar to that of FIG. 27, showing the elements shown in FIG. 27 in addition to the second lens group moving frame shown in FIGS. 10 and 21;

FIG. 29 is a view similar to that of FIG. 25, showing elements shown in FIG. 25 in a state where the zoom lens is in the fully-retracted state and where both the second lens group and the polarizing filter are in the radially retracted positions thereof, viewed obliquely from the rear of the zoom lens;

FIG. 30 is a view similar to that of FIG. 29, showing the elements shown in FIG. 29 in addition to the second lens group moving frame shown in FIGS. 10 and 21;

FIG. 31 is a front elevational view of the filter driving mechanism in a state where the polarizing filter is in the inserted position, in which the polarizing filter is positioned on the photographing optical axis;

FIG. 32 is a front elevational view of the filter driving mechanism in a state where the polarizing filter is in the radially retracted position;

FIG. 33 is a front elevational view of a second lens frame, the insertable/retractable filter holding frame and other elements when both the second lens group and the polarizing filter are positioned on the photographing optical axis;

FIG. 34 is a front elevational view of the second lens frame, the insertable/retractable filter holding frame, and other elements, when the second lens group is positioned on the photographing optical axis while the polarizing filter is retracted to be positioned on a retracted optical axis positioned above the photographing optical axis;

FIG. 35 is a front elevational view of the filter driving mechanism shown in FIGS. 31 and 32, showing the operating status of the polarizing filter when a filter forward rotation switch is operated; and

FIG. 36 is a view similar to that of FIG. 35, showing the operating status of the polarizing filter when a filter reverse rotation switch is operated.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A zoom lens (zoom lens barrel) 71 of a digital camera 70, cross sections of which are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, is changeable between a ready-to-photograph state shown in FIG. 1, in which the zoom lens 71 has advanced from a camera body 72 toward the object side, and an accommodated state (fully-retracted state) shown in FIG. 2, in which the zoom lens 71 is fully retracted into the camera body 72. In FIG. 1, a cross sectional view of an upper half portion of the zoom lens 71 above a photographing optical axis Z1 thereof shows a state of the zoom lens 71 at the telephoto extremity, while a cross sectional view of a lower half portion of the zoom lens 71 below the photographing optical axis Z1 shows a state of the zoom lens 71 at the wide-angle extremity. As shown in FIG. 8A, the zoom lens 71 is provided with a plurality of concentrically arranged ring members (cylindrical members): a second linear guide ring (second-lens-group linear guide ring) 10, a cam ring 11, a first external barrel 12, a second external barrel 13, a first linear guide ring 14, a third external barrel 15, a helicoid ring 18 and a stationary barrel 22 which are substantially concentrically arranged about a common axis that is shown as a lens barrel axis Z0 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The zoom lens 71 is provided with a photographing optical system including a first lens group LG1, a shutter S, an adjustable diaphragm A, a second lens group LG2, a third lens group LG3, a low-pass filter (optical filter) LG4, and a CCD image sensor (solid-state image pick-up device) 60. The zoom lens 71 is further provided with a polarizing filter PF serving as an insertable optical element which can be inserted into and removed from a photographing optical path between the second lens group LG2 and the third lens group LG3 in a ready-to-photograph state of the zoom lens 71. Optical elements from the first lens group LG1 to the CCD image sensor 60 except the polarizing filter PF serve as standard optical elements which are positioned on the photographing optical axis (common optical axis) Z1 when the zoom lens 71 is in a ready-to-photograph state. The photographing optical axis Z1 is parallel to the lens barrel axis Z0 and positioned below the lens barrel axis Z0. The first lens group LG1 and the second lens group LG2 are moved along the photographing optical axis Z1 in a predetermined moving manner to perform a zooming operation, while the third lens group L3 is moved along the photographing optical axis Z1 to perform a focusing operation. In the following description, the term “optical axis direction” refers to a direction parallel to the photographing optical axis Z1. Additionally, in the following description, the term “forward/rearward direction” refers to a direction along the photographing optical axis Z1; the forward direction (the left side as viewed in FIG. 1) and the rearward direction (the right side as viewed in FIG. 1) are defined as being toward the object side and toward the image side, respectively.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the stationary barrel 22 is positioned in the camera body 72 and fixed to the camera body 72, while a CCD holder 21 is fixed to a rear portion of the stationary barrel 22. The CCD image sensor 60 and the low-pass filter LG4 are supported by the CCD holder 21 thereon. The camera 70 is provided behind the CCD holder 21 with an LCD panel (display device) 20 which indicates visual images and various photographic information.

The zoom lens 71 is provided in the stationary barrel 22 with an AF lens frame (third lens frame which supports and holds the third lens group LG3) 51. The zoom lens 71 is provided between the CCD holder 21 and the stationary barrel 22 with an AF guide shaft 52 and a rotation preventive shaft 53 which extend parallel to the photographing optical axis Z1 to guide the AF lens frame 51 in the optical axis direction without rotating the AF lens frame 51 about the lens barrel axis Z0. Front and rear ends of each of the AF guide shaft 52 and the rotation preventive shaft 53 are fixed to the stationary barrel 22 and the CCD holder 21, respectively. The AF lens frame 51 is provided on radially opposite sides thereof with a pair of guide holes 51 a and 51 b in which the AF guide shaft 52 and the rotation preventive shaft 53 are respectively fitted so that the AF lens frame 51 is slidable on the AF guide shaft 52 and the rotation preventive shaft 53. As shown in FIG. 11, the camera 70 is provided with an AF motor 160 having a rotary drive shaft 160 a which is threaded to serve as a feed screw shaft, and the rotary drive shaft 160 a is screwed through a screw hole formed on an AF nut 54. The AF nut 54 is provided with a rotation-preventing protrusion 54 a. The AF lens frame 51 is provided with a guide groove 51 m, extending in a direction parallel to the optical axis Z1, in which the rotation-preventing protrusion 54 a is slidably fitted. Furthermore, the AF lens frame 51 is provided with a stopper protrusion 51 n which is positioned behind the AF nut 54. The AF lens frame 51 is biased forward in the optical axis direction by an extension coil spring 55 serving as a biasing member, and the forward movement limit of the AF lens frame 51 is determined via engagement between the stopper protrusion 51 n and the AF nut 54. If the AF nut 54 is moved rearward by a rotation of the rotary drive shaft 160 a, the AF lens frame 51 is pressed by the AF nut 54 to move rearward. Conversely, if the AF nut 54 is moved forward, the AF lens frame 51 follows the AF nut 54 to move forward by the biasing force of the extension coil spring 55. Due to this structure, the AF lens frame 51 can be moved forward and rearward in the optical axis direction.

As shown in FIG. 7, the camera 70 is provided above the stationary barrel 22 with a zoom motor 150 and a reduction gear train box 74 which are mounted on the stationary barrel 22. The reduction gear train box 74 contains a reduction gear train for transferring rotation of the zoom motor 150 to a zoom gear 28 (see FIGS. 8A, 8B and 11 through 13). The zoom gear 28 is rotatably fitted on a zoom gear shaft 29 extending parallel to the photographing optical axis Z1. Front and rear ends of the zoom gear shaft 29 are fixed to the stationary barrel 22 and the CCD holder 21, respectively.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the stationary barrel 22 is provided on an inner peripheral surface thereof with a female helicoid 22 a, a set of three linear guide grooves 22 b, a set of three inclined grooves 22 c, and a set of three rotational sliding grooves 22 d. Threads of the female helicoid 22 a extend in a direction inclined with respect to both the optical axis direction and a circumferential direction of the stationary barrel 22. The set of three linear guide grooves 22 b extend parallel to the photographing optical axis Z1. The set of three inclined grooves 22 c extend parallel to the female helicoid 22 a. The set of three rotational sliding grooves 22 d are formed in the vicinity of a front end of the inner peripheral surface of the stationary barrel 22 to extend along a circumferential direction of the stationary barrel 22 to communicate the front ends of the set of three inclined grooves 22 c, respectively. The female helicoid 22 a is not formed on the specific front area (non-helicoid area 22 z; see FIG. 12) of the inner peripheral surface of the stationary barrel 22 which is positioned on a front part of the inner peripheral surface of the stationary barrel 22 immediately behind the set of three rotational sliding grooves 22 d.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 13, the helicoid ring 18 is provided on an outer peripheral surface thereof with a male helicoid 18 a and a set of three rotational sliding projections 18 b. The male helicoid 18 a is engaged with the female helicoid 22 a, and the set of three rotational sliding projections 18 b are engaged in the set of three inclined grooves 22 c or the set of three rotational sliding grooves 22 d, respectively. The helicoid ring 18 is provided on the threads of the male helicoid 18 a with an annular gear 18 c which is in mesh with the zoom gear 28. Therefore, when a rotation of the zoom gear 28 is transferred to the annular gear 18 c, the helicoid ring 18 moves forward or rearward in the optical axis direction while rotating about the lens barrel axis Z0 within a predetermined range inwhich the male helicoid 18 a remains in mesh with the female helicoid 22 a. A forward movement of the helicoid ring 18 beyond a predetermined point with respect to the stationary barrel 22 causes the male helicoid 18 a to be disengaged from the female helicoid 22 a so that the helicoid ring 18 rotates about the lens barrel axis Z0 without moving in the optical axis direction relative to the stationary barrel 22 by the engagement of the set of three rotational sliding projections 18 b with the set of three rotational sliding grooves 22 d. The set of three inclined grooves 22 c are formed on the stationary barrel 22 to prevent the set of three rotational sliding projections 18 b and the stationary barrel 22 from interfering with each other when the female helicoid 22 a and the male helicoid 18 a are engaged with each other.

The helicoid ring 18 is provided, on an inner peripheral surface thereof at three different circumferential positions on the helicoid ring 18, with three rotation transfer recesses 18 d (see FIG. 11; only one of them is shown in FIG. 11) front ends of which are open at the front end of the helicoid ring 18, and the third external barrel 15 is provided, at corresponding three different circumferential positions on the third external barrel 15, with three pairs of rotation transfer projections 15 a (see FIGS. 11 and 14) which project rearward from the rear end of the third external barrel 15 to be inserted into the three rotation transfer recesses 18 d from the front thereof, respectively. The three pairs of rotation transfer projections 15 a and the three rotation transfer recesses 18 d are slidingly movable relative to each other in a direction of the lens barrel axis Z0, and are not rotatable relative to each other about the lens barrel axis Z0. Namely, the helicoid ring 18 and the third external barrel 15 integrally rotate. The helicoid ring 18 is provided, on front faces of the three rotational sliding projections 18 b at three different circumferential positions on the helicoid ring 18, with a set of three engaging recesses 18 e which are formed on an inner peripheral surface of the helicoid ring 18 to be open at the front end of the helicoid ring 18. The third external barrel 15 is provided, at corresponding three different circumferential positions on the third external barrel 15, with a set of three engaging projections 15 b which project rearward from the rear end of the third external barrel 15, and also project radially outwards, to be engaged in the set of three engaging recesses 18 e from the front thereof, respectively. The set of three engaging projections 15 b, which are respectively engaged in the set of three engaging recesses 18 e, are also simultaneously engaged in the set of three rotational sliding grooves 22 d, respectively, when the set of three rotational sliding projections 18 b are engaged in the set of three rotational sliding grooves 22 d (see FIG. 3).

The zoom lens 71 is provided between the third external barrel 15 and the helicoid ring 18 with three compression coil springs 25 (see FIGS. 4, 6, 11 and 13) which bias the third external barrel 15 and the helicoid ring 18 in opposite directions away from each other in the optical axis direction. The rear ends of the three compression coil springs 25 are respectively inserted into three spring support holes (insertion recess) 18 f which are formed on the front end of the helicoid ring 18, and the front ends of the three compression coil springs 25 are respectively in pressing contact with three engaging recesses 15 c (see FIG. 14) formed at the rear end of the third external barrel 15. Therefore, the set of three engaging projections 15 b of the third external barrel 15 are respectively pressed against front guide surfaces of the rotational sliding grooves 22 d by the spring force of the three compression coil springs 25. At the same time, the set of three rotational sliding projections 18 b of the helicoid ring 18 are respectively pressed against rear guide surfaces of the rotational sliding grooves 22 d by the spring force of the three compression coil springs 25.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 14, the third external barrel 15 is provided on an inner peripheral surface thereof with a plurality of relative rotation guide projections 15 d which are formed at different circumferential positions on the third external barrel 15, a circumferential groove 15 e which extends in a circumferential direction about the lens barrel axis Z0, and a set of three rotation transfer grooves 15 f which extend parallel to the lens barrel axis Z0. The plurality of relative rotation guide projections 15 d are elongated in a circumferential direction of the third external barrel to lie in a plane orthogonal to the lens barrel axis Z0. As can be seen in FIG. 14, each rotation transfer groove 15 f intersects the circumferential groove 15 e at right angles. The circumferential positions of the three rotation transfer grooves 15 f are formed to correspond to those of the three pairs of rotation transfer projections 15 a, respectively. Each rotation transfer groove 15 f is open at the rear end of the third external barrel 15. The helicoid ring 18 is provided on an inner peripheral surface thereof with a circumferential groove 18 g which extends in a circumferential direction about the lens barrel axis Z0 (see FIGS. 4, 6 and 11). The first linear guide ring 14 is positioned inside of a combination of the third external barrel 15 and the helicoid ring 18 to be supported thereby. The first linear guide ring 14 is provided on an outer peripheral surface thereof with a set of three linear guide projections 14 a, a first plurality of relative rotation guide projections 14 b, a second plurality of relative rotation guide projections 14 c, and a circumferential groove 14 d, in that order from rear to front of the first linear guide ring 14 in the optical axis direction (see FIGS. 3 through 6, 11 and 15). The set of three linear guide projections 14 a project radially outwards in the vicinity of the rear end of the first linear guide ring 14. The first plurality of relative rotation guide projections 14 b project radially outwards at different circumferential positions on the first linear guide ring 14, and are each elongated in a circumferential direction of the first linear guide ring 14 to lie in a plane orthogonal to the lens barrel axis Z0. Likewise, the second plurality of relative rotation guide projections 14 c project at different circumferential positions on the first linear guide ring 14, and are each elongated in a circumferential direction of the first linear guide ring 14 to lie in a plane orthogonal to the lens barrel axis Z0. The circumferential groove 14 d is an annular groove centered on the lens barrel axis Z0. The first linear guide ring 14 is guided in the optical axis direction with respect to the stationary barrel 22 by the engagement of the set of three linear guide projections 14 a with the set of three linear guide grooves 22 b, respectively. The third external barrel 15 is coupled to the first linear guide ring 14 to be rotatable about the lens barrel axis Z0 relative to the first linear guide ring 14 by both the engagement of the second plurality of relative rotation guide projections 14 c with the circumferential groove 15 e and the engagement of the plurality of relative rotation guide projections 15 d with the circumferential groove 14 d. The second plurality of relative rotation guide projections 14 c and the circumferential groove 15 e are loosely engaged with each other to be slightly movable relative to each other in the optical axis direction. Likewise, the plurality of relative rotation guide projections 15 d and the circumferential groove 14 d are loosely engaged with each other to be slightly movable relative to each other in the optical axis direction. The helicoid ring 18 is coupled to the first linear guide ring 14 to be rotatable about the lens barrel axis Z0 relative to the first linear guide ring 14 by the engagement of the first plurality of relative rotation guide projections 14 b with the circumferential groove 18 g. The first plurality of relative rotation guide projections 14 b and the circumferential groove 18 g are loosely engaged with each other to be slightly movable relative to each other in the optical axis direction.

The first linear guide ring 14 is provided with a set of three through-slots 14 e which radially extend through the first linear guide ring 14. As shown in FIG. 15, each through-slot 14 e includes a front circumferential slot portion 14 e-1, a rear circumferential slot portion 14 e-2, and an inclined lead slot portion 14 e-3 which connects the front circumferential slot portion 14 e-1 with the rear circumferential slot portion 14 e-2. The front circumferential slot portion 14 e-1 and the rear circumferential slot portion 14 e-2 extend parallel to each other in a circumferential direction of the first linear guide ring 14. A set of three roller followers 32 fixed to an outer peripheral surface of the cam ring 11 at different circumferential positions thereon are engaged in the set of three through-slots 14 e, respectively. Each roller follower 32 is fixed to the cam ring 11 by set screw 32 a. The set of three roller followers 32 are further engaged in the set of three rotation transfer grooves 15 f through the set of three through-slots 14 e, respectively. The zoom lens 71 is provided between the first linear guide ring 14 and the third external barrel 15 with a follower-biasing ring spring 17. A set of three follower pressing protrusions 17 a protrude rearward from the follower-biasing ring spring 17 to be engaged in front portions of the set of three rotation transfer grooves 15 f, respectively (see FIG. 14). The set of three follower pressing protrusions 17 a press the set of three roller followers 32 rearward to remove backlash between the set of three roller followers 32 and the set of three through-slots 14 e (the front circumferential slot portions 14 e-1) when the set of three roller followers 32 are engaged in the front circumferential slot portions 14 e-1 of the set of three through-slots 14 e, respectively (see FIG. 3).

Advancing operations of movable elements of the zoom lens 71 from the stationary barrel 22 to the cam ring 11 will be discussed hereinafter with reference to the above described structure of the digital camera 70. In the state shown in FIGS. 2, 5 and 6 in which the zoom lens 71 is in the fully-retracted state, rotating the zoom gear 28 in a lens barrel advancing direction by the zoom motor 150 causes the helicoid ring 18 to move forward while rotating about the lens barrel axis Z0 due to the engagement of the female helicoid 22 a with the male helicoid 18 a. This rotation of the helicoid ring 18 causes the third external barrel 15 to move forward together with the helicoid ring 18 while rotating about the lens barrel axis Z0 together with the helicoid ring 18, and further causes the first linear guide ring 14 to move forward together with the helicoid ring 18 and the third external barrel 15 because each of the helicoid ring 18 and the third external barrel 15 is coupled to the first linear guide ring 14 to make respective relative rotations between the third external barrel 15 and the first linear guide ring 14 and between the helicoid ring 18 and the first linear guide ring 14 possible and to be movable together along a direction of a common rotational axis (i.e., the lens barrel axis Z0) due to the engagement of the first plurality of relative rotation guide projections 14 b with the circumferential groove 18 g, the engagement of the second plurality of relative rotation guide projections 14 c with the circumferential groove 15 e, and the engagement of the plurality of relative rotation guide projections 15 d with the circumferential groove 14 d. Rotation of the third external barrel 15 is transferred to the cam ring 11 via the set of three rotation transfer grooves 15 f and the set of three roller followers 32, which are engaged in the set of three rotation transfer grooves 15 f, respectively. Since the set of three roller followers 32 are also engaged in the set of three through-slots 14 e, respectively, the cam ring 11 moves forward while rotating about the lens barrel axis Z0 relative to the first linear guide ring 14 in accordance with contours of the lead slot portions 14 e-3 of the set of three through-slots 14 e. Since the first linear guide ring 14 itself moves forward together with the third lens barrel 15 and the helicoid ring 18 as described above, the cam ring 11 moves forward in the optical axis direction by an amount of movement corresponding to the sum of the amount of the forward movement of the first linear guide ring 14 and the amount of the forward movement of the cam ring 11 by the engagement of the set of three roller followers 32 with the lead slot portions 14 e-3 of the set of three through-slots 14 e, respectively.

In the above described rotating-advancing operations of the cam ring 11, the third external barrel 15 and the helicoid ring 18 are performed while the set of three rotational sliding projections 18 b are moving in the set of three inclined grooves 22 c, respectively, only when the male helicoid 18 a and the female helicoid 22 a are engaged with each other. When the helicoid ring 18 moves forward to the ready-to-photograph position thereof shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, the male helicoid 18 a and the female helicoid 22 a are disengaged from each other so that the set of three rotational sliding projections 18 b move from the set of three inclined grooves 22 c to the set of three rotational sliding grooves 22 d, respectively. Since the helicoid ring 18 does not move in the optical axis direction relative to the stationary barrel 22 even if rotating upon the disengagement of the male helicoid 18 a from the female helicoid 22 a, the helicoid ring 18 and the third external barrel 15 rotate at respective axial positions thereof without moving in the optical axis direction due to the engagement of the set of three rotational sliding projections 18 b with the set of three rotational sliding grooves 22 d. Furthermore, at substantially the same time when the set of three rotational sliding projections 18 b slide into the set of three rotational sliding grooves 22 d from the set of three inclined grooves 22 c, respectively, the set of three roller followers 32 enter the front circumferential slot portions 14 e-1 of the set of three through-slots 14 e, respectively. Thereupon, the cam ring 11 is no longer given any force to also make the cam ring 11 move forward. Consequently, the cam ring 11 only rotates at an axial position in accordance with rotation of the third external barrel 15.

Rotating the zoom gear 28 in a lens barrel retracting direction thereof by the zoom motor 150 causes the aforementioned movable elements of the zoom lens 71 from the stationary barrel 22 to the cam ring 11 to operate in the reverse manner to the above described advancing operations. In this reverse operation, the above described movable elements of the zoom lens 71 retract to their respective retracted positions shown in FIGS. 2, 5 and 6 by rotation of the helicoid ring 18 until the set of three roller followers 32 enter the rear circumferential slot portions 14 e-2 of the set of three through-slots 14 e, respectively.

The structure of the zoom lens 71 from the cam ring 11 forward will be discussed hereinafter. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 15, the first linear guide ring 14 is provided on an inner peripheral surface thereof with a set of three pairs of first linear guide grooves 14 f which are formed at different circumferential positions to extend parallel to the photographing optical axis Z1, and a set of six second linear guide grooves 14 g which are formed at different circumferential positions to extend parallel to the photographing optical axis Z1. Each alternate groove of the six second linear guide grooves 14 g is positioned in between one pair of first linear guide grooves 14 f, i.e., each pair of first linear guide grooves 14 f are respectively positioned on the opposite sides of the associated second linear guide groove 14 g in a circumferential direction of the first linear guide ring 14. The second linear guide ring 10 is provided on an outer edge thereof with a set of three bifurcated projections 10 a (see FIGS. 10 and 20) which project radially outwards from a ring portion 10 b of the second linear guide ring 10. Each bifurcated projection 10 a is provided at a radially outer end thereof with a pair of radial projections which are respectively engaged in the associated pair of first linear guide grooves 14 f. On the other hand, a set of six radial projections 13 a (see FIGS. 9 and 18) which are formed on an outer peripheral surface of the second external barrel 13 at a rear end thereof to project radially outwards are engaged in the set of six second linear guide grooves 14 g, respectively, to be slidable therealong. Therefore, each of the second external barrel 13 and the second linear guide ring 10 is guided in the optical axis direction via the first linear guide ring 14. The second linear guide ring 10 serves as a linear guide member for guiding a second lens group moving frame 8, which indirectly supports the second 10 lens group LG2, linearly without rotating the second lens group moving frame 8, while the second external barrel 13 serves as a linear guide member for guiding the first external barrel 12, which indirectly supports the first lens group LG1, linearly without rotating the first external barrel 12.

As shown in FIGS. 10 and 20, the second linear guide ring 10, that guides the second lens group LG2 linearly, is provided on the ring portion 10 b with a set of three linear guide keys 10 c which project forward in parallel to one another from the ring portion 10 b. The second lens group moving frame 8 is provided with a corresponding set of three guide grooves 8 a (see FIGS. 10 and 21) in which the set of three linear guide keys 10 c are engaged, respectively. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, a discontinuous outer edge of the ring portion 10 b is engaged in a discontinuous circumferential groove 11 e formed on an inner peripheral surface of the cam ring 11 at the rear end thereof to be rotatable about the lens barrel axis Z0 relative to the cam ring 11 and to be immovable relative to the cam ring 11 in the optical axis direction. The set of three linear guide keys 10 c project forward from the ring portion 10 b to be positioned inside the cam ring 11. Opposite edges of each linear guide key 10 c extending in an axial direction of the second linear guide ring 10 serve as parallel guide edges which are respectively engaged with opposed guide surfaces in the associated guide groove 8 a of the second lens group moving frame 8, which is positioned in the cam ring 11 to be supported thereby, to guide the second lens group moving frame 8 linearly in the optical axis direction without rotating the same about the lens barrel axis Z0.

The cam ring 11 is provided on an inner peripheral surface thereof with a plurality of inner cam grooves 11 a for moving the second lens group LG2. As shown in FIG. 17, the plurality of inner cam grooves 11 a include a set of three front inner cam grooves 11 a-1 formed at different circumferential positions, and a set of three rear inner cam grooves 11 a-2 formed at different circumferential positions behind the set of three front inner cam grooves 11 a-1. Each rear inner cam groove 11 a-2 is formed on the cam ring 11 as a discontinuous cam groove (see FIG. 17). The second lens group moving frame 8 is provided on an outer peripheral surface thereof with a plurality of cam followers 8 b. As shown in FIG. 21, the plurality of cam followers 8 b include a set of three front cam followers 8 b-1 which are formed at different circumferential positions to be respectively engaged in the set of three front inner cam grooves 11 a-1, and a set of three rear cam followers 8 b-2 which are formed at different circumferential positions behind the set of three front cam followers 8 b-1 to be respectively engaged in the set of three rear inner cam grooves 11 a-2. A rotation of the cam ring 11 causes the second lens group moving frame 8 to move in the optical axis direction in a predetermined moving manner in accordance with contours of the plurality of inner cam grooves 11 a since the second lens group moving frame 8 is guided linearly in the optical axis direction without rotating via the second linear guide ring 10.

The zoom lens 71 is provided inside the second lens group moving frame 8 with a second lens frame 6 which supports and holds the second lens group LG2. As shown in FIG. 10, the second lens frame 6 is provided with a cylindrical lens holder portion 6 a, a pivoted cylindrical portion 6 b, a swing arm portion 6 c and an engaging protrusion (stop protrusion) 6 e. The cylindrical lens holder portion 6 a directly holds and supports the second lens group L2. The pivoted cylindrical portion 6 b is provided on the axis thereof with a through-hole 6 d which extends in a direction parallel to the optical axis of the second lens group LG2. The swing arm portion 6 c extends in a radial direction of the cylindrical lens holder portion 6 a to connect the cylindrical lens holder portion 6 a to the pivoted cylindrical portion 6 b. The engaging protrusion 6 e is formed on the cylindrical lens holder portion 6 a to extend radially outwards in a direction away from the swing arm portion 6 c. The engaging protrusion 6 e is provided on a rear surface thereof with a stop projection 6 f (see FIGS. 25, 26, 33 and 34). The cylindrical lens holder portion 6 a and the pivoted cylindrical portion 6 b of the second lens frame 6 are cylindrical members, the axes of which are parallel to each other and also parallel to the photographing optical axis Z1. In the through-hole 6 d of the pivoted cylindrical portion 6 b, a pivot shaft 33 is fitted so that the second lens frame 6 can rotate about the pivot shaft 33. The front and rear ends of the pivot shaft 33 are supported by front and rear second lens frame support plates (a pair of second lens frame support plates) 36 and 37, respectively. The pair of second lens frame support plates 36 and 37 are fixed to the second lens group moving frame 8 by a set screw 66. Accordingly, the second lens frame 6 is supported by the second lens group moving frame 8 to be rotatable (swingable) about the pivot shaft 33. The pivot shaft 33 is a predetermined distance away from the photographing optical axis Z1 and extends parallel to the photographing optical axis Z1. The second lens frame 6 is swingable about the pivot shaft 33 between a photographing position (shown in FIGS. 1, 25 through 28, 33 and 34) where the optical axis of the second lens group LG2 coincides with the photographing optical axis Z1 and a radially retracted position (shown in FIGS. 2, 29 and 30) where the optical axis of the second lens group LG2 is retracted away from the photographing optical axis Z1 to be eccentric from the photographing optical axis Z1. As shown in FIGS. 25 through 30, a rotation limit shaft 35 which determines the aforementioned photographing position of the second lens frame 6 by making contact with the engaging protrusion 6 e is mounted to the second lens group moving frame 8. A second lens frame returning spring (front torsion coil spring) 39 (see FIG. 10) is fitted on a front portion of the pivoted cylindrical portion 6 b to bias the second lens frame 6 to rotate in a direction to bring the engaging protrusion 6 e to come into contact with the rotation limit shaft 35, i.e., in a direction toward the aforementioned photographing position of the second lens frame 6. An axial-direction biasing spring 38 made of a compression coil spring is fitted on the pivot shaft 33 to press the pivoted cylindrical portion 6 b forward in the optical axis direction (toward the rear second lens frame support plate 36) to thereby remove backlash of the second lens frame 6 relative to the second lens group moving frame 8 in the optical axis direction.

The second lens frame 6 moves together with the second lens group moving frame 8 in the optical axis direction. The CCD holder 21 is provided on a front surface thereof with a position-control cam bar (removing device) 19 (see FIG. 11) which projects forward from the CCD holder 21 to be engageable with the second lens frame 6. If the second lens group moving frame 8 moves rearward in a retracting direction to approach the CCD holder 21, the position-control cam bar 19 comes into pressing contact with the second lens frame 6 to rotate the second lens frame 6 to the radially retracted position thereof against the biasing force of the second lens frame returning spring 39 (see FIGS. 29 and 30).

More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 25 through 30, the position-control cam bar 19 is provided at a front end thereof with a retracting cam surface 19 a which is inclined with respect to the optical axis direction, and is further provided, along an inner side edge of the position-control cam bar 19 that is communicably connected with the retracting cam surface 19 a, with a radially-retracted-position holding surface 19 b which extends rearward from the retracting cam surface 19 a in the optical axis direction. The position-control cam bar 19 is in the shape of a partial cylinder having its axis on the axis of the pivot shaft 33, thus having a curved shape in cross section. The retracting cam surface 19 a is formed on an end surface of the partial cylinder as a lead surface. The retracting cam surface 19 a is formed as an inclined surface which is inclined forward in a direction away from the photographing optical axis Z1. The position-control cam bar 19 is provided on a lower surface (convex surface) thereof with a guide key 19 c which is elongated in the optical axis direction. The front and rear second lens frame support plates 36 and 37 are provided with a cam-bar insertable hole 36 a and a cam-bar insertable hole 37 a, respectively, so that the cam-bar insertable hole 36 a and the cam-bar insertable hole 37 a are aligned with the position-control cam bar 19 in the optical axis direction. The rear second lens frame support plate 37 is further provided in a portion of the cam-bar insertable hole 37 a with a guide key insertable recess 37 b which allows the guide key 19 c to enter therethrough.

A rotation transfer spring (rear torsion coil spring) 40 that is independent of the second lens frame returning spring 39 is fitted on a rear portion of the pivoted cylindrical portion 6 b. The rotation transfer spring 40 is provided at opposite ends thereof with a stationary spring end 40 a and a movable spring end 40 b, respectively. The stationary spring end 40 a is fixed to the swing arm portion 6 c, and the movable spring end 40 b stays at a position which is exposed to the rear of the second lens group moving frame 8 through the cam-bar insertable hole 37 a (the movable spring end 40 b stays in front of the position-control cam bar 19) when the second lens frame 6 is in the aforementioned photographing position thereof (see FIG. 25).

Due to the above described structure, during the course of moving the second lens group moving frame 8 rearward in the optical axis direction to approach the CCD holder 21 when the zoom lens 71 moves from a ready-to-photograph state to the fully-retracted state, the position-control cam bar 19 enters the cam-bar insertable hole 37 a of the rear second lens frame support plate 37 (see FIGS. 29 and 30) and the retracting cam surface 19 a of the position-control cam bar 19 comes into contact with the movable spring end 40 b of the rotation transfer spring 40. A further rearward movement of the second lens frame 6 together with the second lens group moving frame 8 with the rear movable spring end 40 b remaining in contact with the retracting cam surface 19 a generates a component force in a direction to make the rear movable spring end 40 b rotate while sliding on the retracting cam surface 19 a in a radial direction of the pivot shaft 33 in accordance with the shape of the retracting cam surface 19 a so that the rotation of the rear movable spring end 40 b is transferred to the second lens group 6 via the stationary spring end 40 a. Upon receiving a turning force from the retracting cam surface 19 a via the rotation transfer spring 40, the second lens group 6 rotates about the pivot shaft 33 against the spring force of the second lens frame returning spring 39 from the aforementioned photographing position (shown in FIGS. 1, 25 through 28 and 33 through 34) toward the aforementioned radially retracted position (shown in FIGS. 2, 29 and 30) in accordance with the retracting movement of the second lens group moving frame 8. Upon the second lens frame 6 rotating to the radially retracted position, the rear movable spring end 40 b moves from the retracting cam surface 19 a to the radially-retracted-position holding surface 19 b to be engaged therewith. Thereafter, the second lens frame 6 is not rotated about the pivot shaft 33 in a direction to the radially retracted position even if the second lens group moving frame 8 moves rearward. This rotation of the second lens frame 6 from the photographing position to the radially retracted position is predetermined to be completed before the second lens frame 6 retracts to the position of the AF lens frame 51 that is positioned behind the second lens frame 6 so that the second lens frame 6 and the AF lens frame 51 do not interfere with each other. After the second lens frame 6 reaches the radially retracted position, the second lens group moving frame 8 continues to move rearward until reaching the retracted position shown in FIG. 2. During this rearward movement of the second lens group moving frame 8, the second lens group 6 moves rearward together with the second lens group moving frame 8 with the second lens group 6 held in the radially retracted position, in which the rear movable spring end 40 b remains in engaged with the radially-retracted-position holding surface 19 b. Upon the zoom lens 71 moving to the fully-retracted state shown in FIG. 2, the position-control cam bar 19 projects forward from the cam-bar insertable hole 36 a of the front second lens frame support plate 36 as shown in FIGS. 29 and 30.

When the zoom lens 71 advances from the retracted position shown in FIG. 2 to the ready-to-photograph position shown in FIG. 1, the second lens frame 6 is rotated from the radially retracted position to the photographing position by the biasing force of the second lens frame returning spring 39 upon the second lens frame 6 moving forward to a position in which the engagement of the rear movable spring end 40 b of the rotation transfer spring 40 with the retracting cam surface 19 a of the position-control cam bar 19 is released.

The spring force (rigidity) of the rotation transfer spring 40 is predetermined to be capable of transferring a torque from the rear movable spring end 40 b to the second lens group 6 via the front stationary spring end 40 a without the front stationary spring end 40 a and the rear movable spring end 40 b flexing toward each other. Namely, the resiliency of the rotation transfer spring 40 is determined to be greater than that of the second lens frame returning spring 39 at the time the second lens frame returning spring 39 holds the second lens frame 6 in the photographing position.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 18, the second external barrel 13 is provided, on an inner peripheral surface thereof, with a set of three linear guide grooves 13 b which are formed at different circumferential positions to extend parallel to one another in the optical axis direction. The first external barrel 12 is provided on an outer peripheral surface at the rear end thereof with a set of three engaging protrusions 12 a which are slidably engaged in the set of three linear guide grooves 13 b, respectively. Accordingly, the first external barrel 12 is guided linearly in the optical axis direction without rotating via the first linear guide ring 14 and the second external barrel 13. The second external barrel 13 is further provided on an inner peripheral surface thereof in the vicinity of the rear end of the second external barrel 13 with a discontinuous inner flange 13 c which extends in a circumferential direction of the second external barrel 13. The cam ring 11 is provided on an outer peripheral surface thereof with a discontinuous circumferential groove 11 c in which the discontinuous inner flange 13 c is slidably engaged so that the cam ring 11 is rotatable about the lens barrel axis Z0 relative to the second external barrel 13 and so that the second external barrel 13 is not relatively movable in the optical axis direction to the cam ring 11. On the other hand, the first external barrel 12 is provided on an inner peripheral surface thereof with a set of three cam followers 31 which project radially inwards, and the cam ring 11 is provided on an outer peripheral surface thereof with a set of three outer cam grooves 11 b (cam grooves for moving the first lens group LG1; see FIGS. 10 and 16) in which the set of three cam followers 31 are slidably engaged, respectively.

The zoom lens 71 is provided inside the first external barrel 12 with a first lens frame 1 which is supported by the first external barrel 12 via a first lens group adjustment ring 2. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 9, the first lens group LG1 is supported by the first lens frame 1 to be fixed thereto. The first lens frame 1 is provided on an outer peripheral surface thereof with a male screw thread (adjusting screw thread) 1 a, and the first lens group adjustment ring 2 is provided on an inner peripheral surface thereof with a female screw thread (adjusting screw thread) 2 a which is engaged with the male screw thread 1 a. The axial position of the first lens frame 1 relative to the first lens group adjustment ring 2 can be adjusted via the male screw thread 1 a and the female screw thread 2 a. A combination of the first lens frame 1 and the first lens group adjustment ring 2 is positioned inside of the first external barrel 12 to be supported thereby and to be movable in the optical axis direction relative to the first external barrel 12. The zoom lens 71 is provided in front of the first external barrel 12 with a fixing ring 3 which is fixed to the first external barrel 12 by set screws to prevent the first lens group adjustment ring 2 from moving forward and coming off the first external barrel 12.

The zoom lens 71 is provided between the first and second lens groups LG1 and LG2 with a shutter unit 76 including the shutter S and the adjustable diaphragm A. The shutter unit 76 is positioned in the second lens group moving frame 8 to be fixed thereto.

Operations of the zoom lens 71 that has the above described structure will be discussed hereinafter. The stage at which the cam ring 11 is driven to advance from the fully-retracted position shown in FIG. 2 to the position where the cam ring 11 rotates at the axial position without moving in the optical axis direction has been discussed above, and will be briefly discussed hereinafter. In the state shown in FIG. 2, in which the zoom lens 71 is in the retracted state, the zoom lens 71 is fully accommodated in the camera body 72. Upon a main switch 73 (see FIG. 22) provided on an outer surface of the digital camera 70 being turned ON in the fully-retracted state of the zoom lens 71 shown in FIG. 2, the zoom motor 150 is driven to rotate in a lens barrel advancing direction by control of a control circuit (an element of a rotation controller) 75 (see FIG. 22) provided in the camera body 72. This rotation of the zoom motor 150 rotates the zoom gear 28. At the same time, this rotation of the zoom gear 28 causes a combination of the helicoid ring 18 and the third external barrel 15 to move forward while rotating about the lens barrel axis Z0 due to the engagement of the female helicoid 22 a with the male helicoid 18 a, and further causes the first linear guide ring 14 to move forward together with the third external barrel 15 and the helicoid ring 18. At this time, the cam ring 11 which rotates by rotation of the third external barrel 15 moves forward in the optical axis direction by an amount of movement corresponding to the sum of the amount of the forward movement of the first linear guide ring 14 and the amount of the forward movement of the cam ring 11 by a leading structure between the cam ring 11 and the first linear guide ring 14, i.e., by the engagement of the set of three roller followers 32 with the lead slot portions 14 e-3 of the set of three through-slots 14 e, respectively. Once the helicoid ring 18 and the cam ring 11 advance to respective predetermined positions thereof, the male helicoid 18 a is disengaged from the female helicoid 22 a while the set of three roller followers 32 are disengaged from the lead slot portions 14 e-3 to enter the front circumferential slot portions 14 e-1, respectively. Consequently, each of the helicoid ring 18 and the cam ring 11 rotates about the lens barrel axis Z0 without moving in the optical axis direction.

A rotation of the cam ring 11 causes the second lens group moving frame 8, which is positioned inside the cam ring 11 and guided linearly in the optical axis direction via the second linear guide ring 10, to move in the optical axis direction with respect to the cam ring 11 in a predetermined moving manner due to the engagement of the set of three front cam followers 8 b-1 with the set of three front inner cam grooves 11 a-1 and the engagement of the set of three rear cam followers 8 b-2 with the set of three rear inner cam grooves 11 a-2, respectively. In the state shown in FIG. 2, in which the zoom lens 71 is in the fully-retracted state, the second lens frame 6, which is positioned inside of the second lens group moving frame 8, has rotated about the pivot shaft 33 to be held in the radially retracted position above the photographing optical axis Z1 by the action of the position-control cam bar 19 so that the optical axis of the second lens group LG2 moves from the photographing optical axis Z1 to a retracted optical axis Z2 positioned above the photographing optical axis Z1. During the course of movement of the second lens group moving frame 8 from the retracted position to a position in the zooming range, the second lens frame 6 is disengaged from the position-control cam bar 19 to rotate about the pivot shaft 33 from the radially retracted position to the photographing position shown in FIG. 1, so that the optical axis of the second lens group LG2 coincides with the photographing optical axis Z1, by the spring force of the second lens frame returning spring 39. Thereafter, the second lens frame 6 remains held in the photographing position until the zoom lens 71 is retracted into the camera body 72.

In addition, a rotation of the cam ring 11 causes the first external barrel 12, which is positioned around the cam ring 11 and guided linearly in the optical axis direction without rotating about the lens barrel axis Z0, to move in the optical axis direction relative to the cam ring 11 in a predetermined moving manner due to the engagement of the set of three cam followers 31 with the set of three outer cam grooves 11 b, respectively.

Accordingly, an axial position of the first lens group LG1 relative to an imaging plane (a light-sensitive surface of the CCD image sensor 60) when the first lens group LG1 is moved forward from the retracted position is determined by the sum of the amount of forward movement of the cam ring 11 relative to the stationary barrel 22 and the amount of forward movement of the first external barrel 12 relative to the cam ring 11, and an axial position of the second lens group LG2 relative to the imaging plane when the second lens group LG2 is moved forward from the retracted position is determined by the sum of the amount of forward movement of the cam ring 11 relative to the stationary barrel 22 and the amount of forward movement of the second lens group moving frame 8 relative to the cam ring 11. A zooming operation is carried out by moving the first and second lens groups LG1 and LG2 on the photographing optical axis Z1 while changing the air distance therebetween. When the zoom lens 71 is driven to advance from the fully-retracted position shown in FIG. 2, the zoom lens 71 firstly moves into a state shown below the photographing lens axis Z1 in FIG. 1 in which the zoom lens 71 is at the wide-angle extremity. Subsequently, the zoom lens 71 moves into the state shown above the photographing lens axis Z1 in FIG. 1 in which the zoom lens 71 is at the telephoto extremity by a further rotation of the zoom motor 150 in a lens barrel advancing direction thereof. As can be seen from FIG. 1, the distance between the first and second lens groups LG1 and LG2 when the zoom lens 71 is at the wide-angle extremity is greater than that of when the zoom lens 71 is at the telephoto extremity. When the zoom lens 71 is at the telephoto extremity as shown above the photographing lens axis Z1 in FIG. 1, the first and second lens groups LG1 and LG2 have moved toward each other so as to have a distance therebetween which is smaller than the distance thereof when the zoom lens 71 is at the wide-angle extremity. This variation of the distance between the first and second lens groups LG1 and LG2 for zooming operation is achieved by contours of the plurality of inner cam grooves 11 a (11 a-1 and 11 a-2) and the set of three outer cam grooves 11 b. In the zooming range between the wide-angle extremity and the telephoto extremity, the cam ring 11, the third external barrel 15 and the helicoid ring 18 rotate at their respective axial positions, i.e., without moving in the optical axis direction.

When the zoom lens 71 is in a ready-to-photograph state at a focal length between the wide-angle extremity and the telephoto extremity, an AF (autofocus) control and an AE (auto exposure) control are performed by turning ON a photometric switch 77 (see FIG. 22), and a shutter release operation is performed by turning ON a release switch 78. Although not shown in the drawings, a shutter release button is provided on a top surface of the camera body 72. The photometric switch 77 is turned ON upon the shutter release button being depressed in a half way down, and the release switch 78 is turned ON upon the shutter release button being fully depressed. In the AF control, the third lens group LG3 (the AF lens frame 51) moves along the photographing optical axis Z1 to perform a focusing operation by driving the AF motor 160 in accordance with information on an object distance obtained by a distance measuring device 96 of the digital camera 70. In the AE control, an aperture value and a shutter speed are determined in accordance with object brightness data obtained via the CCD image sensor 60.

Upon the main switch 73 being turned OFF, the zoom motor 150 is driven to rotate in a lens barrel retracting direction so that the zoom lens 71 operates in the reverse manner to the above described advancing operation to fully retract the zoom lens 71 into the camera body 72 as shown in FIG. 2. During the course of this retracting movement of the zoom lens 71, the second lens frame 6 rotates about the pivot shaft 33 to the radially retracted position by the position-control cam bar 19 while moving rearward together with the second lens group moving frame 8. When the zoom lens 71 is fully retracted into the camera body 72, the second lens group LG2 is retracted into the space radially outside the space in which the third lens group LG3, the low-pass filter LG4 and the CCD image sensor 60 are retracted as shown in FIG. 2, i.e., the second lens group LG2 is radially retracted into an axial range substantially identical to an axial range in the optical axis direction in which the third lens group LG3, the low-pass filter LG4 and the CCD image sensor 60 are positioned. This structure of the digital camera 70 for retracting the second lens group LG2 in this manner reduces the length of the zoom lens 71 when the zoom lens 71 is fully retracted, thus making it possible to reduce the thickness of the camera body 72 in the optical axis direction, i.e., in the horizontal direction as viewed in FIG. 2.

As mentioned above, the zoom lens 71 is further provided, between the second lens group LG2 and the third lens group LG3 in a ready-to-photograph state of the zoom lens 71, with the polarizing filter PF that can be inserted into and removed from a photographing optical path between the second lens group LG2 and the third lens group LG3. The polarizing filter PF is held by an insertable/retractable filter holding frame (insertable optical element holding frame) 80 which is rotatable about the pivot shaft 33, about which the second lens frame 6 is rotatable. Moreover, the polarizing filter PF is supported by the insertable/retractable filter holding frame 80 so that the polarizing filter PF is rotatable about the axis thereof relative to the insertable/retractable filter holding frame 80. The drive mechanism for the polarizing filter PF will be discussed hereinafter.

As shown in FIG. 23, the insertable/retractable filter holding frame 80 includes a front support plate 80 a and a rear support plate 80 b. The front support plate 80 a is provided at one end thereof with a pivot shaft insertion hole 80 c which is fitted on the pivot shaft 33 to be freely rotatable relative thereto. The front support plate 80 a is provided on the rear thereof with a hollow cylindrical projection 80 c-1, the axial hole of which is coincident with the pivot shaft insertion hole 80 c. The rear support plate 80 b is provided, at a position thereon which faces the pivot shaft insertion hole 80 c in the optical axis direction, with a circular hole 80 c-2. Each of the front support plate 80 a and the rear support plate 80 b is provided with a swingable arm 80 d and a filter holding portion 80 f. The swingable arm 80 d extends in a radial direction of the pivot shaft insertion hole 80 c, and the filter holding portion 80 f is integral with the swingable arm 80 d and includes a circular opening 80 e. The front support plate 80 a is further provided on the front and the rear thereof with a stop portion 80 g and a rotation support flange 81 x, respectively. The stop portion 80 g is positioned at an end of the front support plate 80 a which is opposite from the other end thereof at which the pivot shaft insertion hole 80 c is formed. The rotation support flange 81 x is formed on a rear surface of the front support plate 80 a which faces the rear support plate 80 b. The rotation support flange 81 x is formed in a ring shape which is positioned around the circular opening 80 e of the front support plate 80 a. The axis of the rotation support flange 81 x is parallel to the photographing optical axis Z1. The front support plate 80 a is provided on opposite side edges thereof with a pair of rearward projections on which a pair of engaging lugs 80 h are formed, respectively, and the rear support plate 80 b is provided on opposite side edges thereof with a corresponding pair of forward projections in which a pair of engaging holes 80 i are formed, respectively. The front support plate 80 a and the rear support plate 80 b are fixed to each other by a set screw 80 j with the pair of engaging lugs 80 h being engaged in the pair of engaging holes 80 i, respectively. After the front support plate 80 a and the rear support plate 80 b are fixed to each other by the set screw 80 j in such a manner, the pivot shaft 33 is inserted into the pivot shaft insertion hole 80 c and the circular hole 80 c-2. Accordingly, the insertable/retractable filter holding frame 80 is supported by the pivot shaft 33 to be rotatable (swingable) about the pivot shaft 33.

The polarizing filter PF is held by a filter holding ring 81. As shown in FIG. 24, the filter holding ring 81 is held between the filter holding portions 80 f of the front support plate 80 a and the rear support plate 80 b, and is fitted on the rotation support flange 81 x to be freely rotatable thereon. In a state where the filter holding ring 81 is supported by the insertable/retractable filter holding frame 80, the polarizing filter PF is positioned so that front and rear surfaces thereof are exposed to the circular opening 80 e of the front support plate 80 a and the circular opening 80 e of the rear support plate 80 b, respectively.

The filter holding ring 81 is provided on the outer edge thereof with a filter gear (spur gear) 81 a which is in mesh with a friction gear (spur gear) 82. The friction gear 82 is in mesh with an idle gear (spur gear) 83, and the idle gear 83 is in mesh with a rotation control gear (spur gear) 84. The front support plate 80 a is provided on the rear thereof with two rotational pins 82 x and 83 x each of which projects rearwards, and the friction gear 82 and the idle gear 83 are rotatably fitted on the rotational pins 82 x and 83 x, respectively. The rotation control gear 84 is rotatably fitted on the cylindrical projection 80 c-1. Since the cylindrical projection 80 c-1 and the pivot shaft 33 are coaxially arranged, the rotation control gear 84 is driven about the pivot shaft 33. The rotation control gear 84 is in mesh with an idle gear 85 which is in mesh with a drive gear 86. Opposite ends of a rotational shaft 85 x of the idle gear 85 are fitted in front and rear bearing holes formed on the second lens group moving frame 8 and the rear second lens frame support plate 37, respectively, to be supported thereby. Likewise, opposite ends of a rotational shaft 86 x of the drive gear 86 are fitted in front and rear bearing holes formed on the front and rear second lens frame support plates 36 and 37 to be supported thereby, respectively. Axes of the rotational pin 82 x, the rotational pin 83 x, the rotational shaft 85 x and the rotational shaft 86 x are parallel to the photographing optical axis Z1. As mentioned above, the rotation support flange 81 x, which serves the axis of rotation of the filter gear 81 a (the filter holding ring 81), and the pivot shaft 33, which serves as the axis of rotation of the rotation control gear 84, are also parallel to the photographing optical axis Z1. Therefore, each of all the gears constituting a gear train from the filter gear 81 a to the drive gear 86 is driven about an associated axis of rotation parallel to the photographing optical axis Z1. The friction gear 82 is pressed against the rear support plate 80 b by a spring washer 82 a so that a predetermined magnitude of resistance is continuously exerted on the friction gear 82.

The drive gear 86 is driven forward and reverse by a filter drive motor (pulse motor/an element of the rotation controller) 87 (see FIG. 22) mounted to the second lens group moving frame 8. The filter drive motor 87 together with actuators for driving the shutter S and the adjustable diaphragm A is provided in the shutter unit 76. As shown in FIGS. 25, 27 and 29, the shutter unit 76 and the insertable/retractable filter holding frame 80 are apart from each other with the second lens group 6 being positioned between the shutter unit 76 and the insertable/retractable filter holding frame 80. The drive gear 86 is formed as a long gear which is elongated in the optical axis direction to be capable of transferring a driving force from the filter drive motor 87 on the shutter unit 76 to the idle gear 85 on the insertable/retractable filter holding frame 80 side. If the drive gear 86 is rotated, the rotation control gear 84 rotates via the idle gear 85. Since the friction gear 82 sustains a resistance by the spring washer 82 a, the rotation control gear 84 and the idle gear 83 operate as a sun gear and a planet gear of a planetary gear train, respectively, so that the idle gear 83 revolves around the rotation control gear 84 thereon while rotating on the axis of the idle gear 83 when the rotation control gear 84 is rotated. This causes the insertable/retractable filter holding frame 80 to be rotated forward and reverse about the pivot shaft 33 in accordance with forward and reverse rotations of the drive gear 86, respectively. Consequently, similar to the second lens group LG2 that is held by the second lens frame 6, the polarizing filter PF can be moved between an inserted position (shown in FIGS. 27, 28, 31 and 33) in which the polarizing filter PF is positioned on the photographing optical axis Z1 and a radially retracted position (removed position; shown in FIGS. 25, 26, 29, 30, 32 and 34) in which the polarizing filter PF is positioned on the retracted optical axis Z2. Specifically, the polarizing filter PF moves on the photographing optical axis Z1 if the drive gear 86 rotates in a direction K1 shown in FIGS. 32 through 34, and the polarizing filter PF moves away from the photographing optical axis Z1 to move on the retracted optical axis Z2 if the drive gear 86 rotates in a direction K2 shown in FIGS. 32 through 34. Accordingly, the idle gear 83, the rotation control gear 84, the idle gear 85, the drive gear 86 and the filter drive motor 87 constitute an inserting/removing driving device which makes the insertable/retractable filter holding frame 80 rotate in forward and reverse directions to bring the polarizing filter PF to the inserted position and the radially retracted position, respectively.

Upon the insertable/retractable filter holding frame 80 being rotated to a point where the polarizing filter PF is in the inserted position, the stop portion 80 g comes into contact with the stop projection 6 f of the second lens frame 6 as shown in FIG. 33 to prevent the insertable/retractable filter holding frame 80 from further rotating in a filter inserting direction (counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 33). Additionally, upon the insertable/retractable filter holding frame 80 being rotated to a point where the polarizing filter PF is in the radially retracted position, the stop portion 80 g comes into contact with a stop protrusion 8 c which protrudes from an inner peripheral surface of the second lens group moving frame 8 as shown in FIG. 34 to prevent the insertable/retractable filter holding frame 80 from further rotating in a filter removing direction (clockwise as viewed in FIG. 34).

According to the above described structure, in a ready-to-photograph state of the zoom lens 71 shown in FIG. 1, the inserting/removing operation of the polarizing filter PF (the forward/reverse rotation of the insertable/retractable filter holding frame 80) for bringing the polarizing filter PF to be positioned on or off the photographing optical axis Z1 can be freely carried out independently of the drive mechanism for zooming and focusing that drives the first, second and third lens groups LG1, LG2 and LG3. Specifically, FIGS. 25, 26 and 34 show a state where the polarizing filter PF is removed from the photographing optical axis Z1 in a ready-to-photograph state of the zoom lens 71, while FIGS. 27, 28 and 33 show a state where the polarizing filter PF is inserted to lie on the photographing optical axis Z1 in a ready-to-photograph state of the zoom lens 71. As can be understood from these drawings, the insertable/retractable filter holding frame 80 swings inside the second lens group moving frame 8, and accordingly, the polarizing filter PF can be inserted into and removed from a photographing optical path between the second lens group LG2 and the third lens group LG3 without interfering with operations of other optical elements such as the third lens group LG3 in the entire zooming range from the wide-angle extremity (shown by a lower half of the zoom lens 71 in FIG. 1) to the telephoto extremity (shown by an upper half of the zoom lens 71 in FIG. 1). In an inserted state of the polarizing filter PF, in which the axis of the polarizing filter PF lies on the photographing optical axis Z1, the polarizing filter PF is positioned immediately behind the second lens group LG2, so that a light bundle which emerges from the second lens group LG2 passes through the polarizing filter PF to be incident on the third lens group LG3. On the other hand, in a radially retracted state of the polarizing filter PF, in which the polarizing filter PF is retracted so that the axis thereof lies on the retracted optical axis Z2, the light bundle which emerges from the second lens group LG2 does not pass through the polarizing filter PF.

In the inserted state of the polarizing filter PF, the insertable/retractable filter holding frame 80 is prevented from rotating in the filter inserting direction by the engagement of the stop portion 80 g with the stop projection 6 f of the second lens frame 6 as described above (see FIG. 33). In this state where the insertable/retractable filter holding frame 80 is prevented from rotating in the filter inserting direction, further rotation of the drive gear 86 in a filter inserting direction (the aforementioned direction K1) causes the idle gear 83 and the friction gear 82 to rotate (on the axes thereof) in opposite directions shown by two broken-line arrows in FIG. 31, respectively, against the resistance exerted on the friction gear 82 by the spring washer 82 a. Consequently, the filter holding ring 81 rotates clockwise as viewed in FIG. 31, and accordingly, the filter holding ring 81 can be rotated at a fixed position on the photographing optical axis Z1 relative to the insertable/retractable filter holding frame 80. Conversely, if the drive gear 86 is driven in a filter removing direction (the aforementioned direction K2) in the inserted state of the polarizing filter PF of FIGS. 31 and 33, the friction gear 82 does not rotate (on the axis thereof) but the idle gear 83 revolves around the rotation control gear 84 thereon while rotating on the axis of the idle gear 83, so that the insertable/retractable filter holding frame 80 is rotated about the pivot shaft 33 clockwise from the position in FIGS. 31 and 33. Consequently, the polarizing filter PF moves away from the photographing optical axis Z1 to move on the retracted optical axis Z2 as shown in FIGS. 32 and 34.

The digital camera 70 is provided with a filter inserting switch 88, a filter removing switch 89, a filter forward rotation switch 90, a filter reverse rotation switch 91 and a filter position direct-setting switch 92 (see FIG. 22). The filter drive motor 87 is driven forward and reverse in accordance with operations of the filter inserting switch 88 and the filter removing switch 89, respectively. More specifically, the drive gear 86 is rotated in the aforementioned direction K1 by the filter drive motor 87 upon the filter inserting switch 88 being operated, and the drive gear 86 is rotated in the aforementioned direction K2 by the filter drive motor 87 upon the filter removing switch 89 being operated. The filter drive motor 87 is a pulse motor. Upon inputting an ON signal (insertion signal) via the filter inserting switch 88, the control circuit 75 controls the number of drive pulses for driving the filter drive motor 87 to rotate the insertable/retractable filter holding frame 80 from the aforementioned radially retracted position to the aforementioned inserted position. On the other hand, upon inputting an ON signal (remove signal) via the filter removing switch 89, the control circuit 75 controls the number of drive pulses for driving the filter drive motor 87 to rotate the insertable/retractable filter holding frame 80 from the aforementioned inserted position to the aforementioned radially retracted position.

Upon the filter forward rotation switch 90, the filter reverse rotation switch 91 or the filter position direct-setting switch 92 being operated to rotate the polarizing filter PF when the insertable/retractable filter holding frame 80 is in the inserted position, the drive gear 86 is rotated in the filter inserting direction (the aforementioned direction K1) by the filter drive motor 87. Rotating the drive gear 86 in the filter inserting direction in a state where the insertable/retractable filter holding frame 80 is in the inserted state (positioned on the photographing optical axis Z1) causes the filter holding ring 81 to rotate on the photographing optical axis Z1. This rotation of the filter holding ring 81 changes the polarization effect of the polarizing filter PF.

Operations of the above described drive mechanism for driving the polarizing filter PF will be discussed hereinafter. When the digital camera 70 is in a ready-to-photograph state as shown in FIG. 1, the control circuit 75 controls the operation of the filter drive motor 87 so that the filter drive motor 87 rotates in the filter inserting direction to insert the polarizing filter PF (the insertable/retractable filter holding frame 80) into a photographing optical path between the second lens group LG2 and the third lens group LG3 on the photographing optical axis Z1 in accordance with an ON signal of the filter inserting switch 88, or controls the operation of the filter drive motor 87 so that the filter drive motor 87 rotates in a filter removing direction to move the polarizing filter PF (the insertable/retractable filter holding frame 80) out of the photographing optical path to thereby move the polarizing filter PF from the photographing optical axis Z1 onto the retracted optical axis Z2 in accordance with an ON signal of the filter removing switch 89. As described above, this filter inserting/removing operation can be carried out without interfering with operations of other optical elements in the entire zooming range of the zoom lens 71.

The control circuit 75 controls the operation of the filter drive motor 87 so that the filter drive motor 87 rotates in the filter inserting direction to rotate the polarizing filter PF (the filter holding ring 81) in accordance with a signal generated upon any of the filter forward rotation switch 90, the filter reverse rotation switch 91, the filter position direct-setting switch 92 or the auto rotational control mode switch 93 being operated, when the polarizing filter PF is in the inserted position (on the photographing optical axis Z1). Operating the forward rotation switch 90 generates a forward rotation signal, and operating the filter reverse rotation switch 91 generates a reverse rotation signal.

Upon inputting a switching signal for moving the digital camera 70 from a ready-to-photograph state shown in FIG. 1, in which the insertable/retractable filter holding frame 80 lies on the photographing optical axis Z1, to the fully-retracted state shown in FIG. 2, i.e., upon the main switch 73 of the digital camera 70 being turned OFF in a state where the filter inserting switch 88 is ON, the control circuit 75 drives the filter drive motor 87 in the filter removing direction to move the polarizing filter PF (the insertable/retractable filter holding frame 80) from the inserted position on the photographing optical axis Z1 to the radially retracted position on the retracted optical axis Z2. Subsequently, the control circuit 75 drives the zoom motor 150 in the lens barrel retracting direction to move the second lens group moving frame 8 rearward in the optical axis direction. Thereupon, the second lens frame 6 rotates to move from the photographing position (in which the second lens group LG2 is positioned on the photographing optical axis Z1) to the radially retracted position (in which the second lens group LG2 is positioned on the retracted optical axis Z2). In the case where the insertable/retractable filter holding frame 80 has been moved to the radially retracted position on the retracted optical axis Z2 when the main switch 73 is turned OFF, the control circuit 75 omits the operation for driving the filter drive motor 87 and performs a lens barrel retracting operation in which the zoom motor 150 is driven to fully retract the zoom lens 71 into the camera body 72 as shown in FIG. 2. FIGS. 29 and 30 show this state in which both the second lens frame 6 and the insertable/retractable filter holding frame 80 are removed from respective positions thereof on the photographing optical axis Z1. As can be understood from these drawings, the second lens group LG2 and the polarizing filter PF have been rotated in the same direction about the pivot shaft 33 to be thereby positioned adjacent to each other on the retracted optical axis Z2 in the forward/rearward direction. In this manner, by removing the second lens group LG2 and the polarizing filter PF in the same direction from respective positions on the photographing optical axis Z1, the space for the second lens group LG2 and the polarizing filter PF to be radially retracted can be made smaller than the case where the second lens group LG2 and the polarizing filter PF are removed in different directions from respective positions on the photographing optical axis Z1. In addition, simplification of the support mechanism for supporting the second lens frame 6 and the insertable/retractable filter holding frame 80 is achieved by a reduction of the number of elements thereof because the second lens frame 6 and the insertable/retractable filter holding frame 80 are pivoted about a common pivot shaft, i.e., the pivot shaft 33.

The control circuit 75 continues to drive the zoom motor 150 in the lens barrel retracting direction even after the second lens frame 6 has rotated to the radially retracted position. This continuous driving of the zoom motor 150 causes the second lens group moving frame 8 to move rearward with the second lens frame 6 and the insertable/retractable filter holding frame 80 and to finally reach the position shown in FIG. 2. In the fully-retracted state of the zoom lens 71 shown in FIG. 2, the second lens group LG2 has been moved rearward to a position where the second lens group LG2 is positioned in an axial range substantially identical to an axial range in the optical axis direction in which the third lens group LG3 and the low-pass filter LG4 are positioned (i.e., so that the second lens group LG2 is positioned radially outside the third lens group LG3 and the low-pass filter LG4), and the polarizing filter PF has been moved rearward to a position where the polarizing filter PF is positioned in an axial range substantially identical to an axial range in the optical axis direction in which the CCD image sensor 60 is positioned (i.e., so that the polarizing filter PF is positioned radially outside the CCD image sensor 60). Accordingly, the length of the zoom lens 71 in the fully-retracted state thereof is reduced by a length substantially corresponding to the thickness of the second lens group LG2 and the polarizing filter PF, which makes it possible to reduce the thickness of the digital camera 70 in the optical axis direction, i.e., in the horizontal direction as viewed in FIG. 2. In the fully-retracted state of the zoom lens 71 shown in FIG. 2, the control circuit 75 does not drive the filter drive motor 87 even if any of the filter inserting switch 88, the filter removing switch 89, the filter forward rotation switch 90, the filter reverse rotation switch 91 and the filter position direct-setting switch 92 is operated.

Contrary to the above described lens barrel retracting operation, upon inputting a switching signal for moving the digital camera 70 from the fully-retracted state shown in FIG. 2 to a ready-to-photograph state shown in FIG. 1, the control circuit 75 drives the zoom motor 150 in the lens barrel advancing direction to move the zoom lens 71 to the ready-to-photograph state at the wide-angle extremity as shown by a lower half portion of the zoom lens 71 in FIG. 1. During the course of this advancing movement of the zoom lens 71, the second lens frame 6 rotates about the pivot shaft 33 from the radially retracted position to the photographing position so that the second lens group LG2 is positioned on the photographing optical axis Z1. During this lens barrel advancing operation, the control circuit 75 does not drive the filter drive motor 87, and accordingly, the insertable/retractable filter holding frame 80 is moved forward in the optical axis direction together with the second lens group moving frame 8 while holding the polarizing filter PF in the radially retracted position on the retracted optical axis Z2.

When the zoom lens 71 moves from a ready-to-photograph state shown in FIG. 1 to the fully-retracted state shown in FIG. 2, the insertable/retractable filter holding frame 80 can be rotated in the filter removing direction by the rotation operation of the second lens frame 6 from the photographing position to the radially retracted position, not by the aforementioned driving force generated by the filter drive motor 87. Specifically, in a ready-to-photograph state of the zoom lens 71, the stop projection 6 f of the second lens frame 6 is in contact with the stop portion 80 g as shown in FIG. 33, and a rotation of the second lens frame 6 about the pivot shaft 33 from the photographing position to the radially retracted position (clockwise as viewed in FIG. 33) causes the stop projection 6 f to press the stop portion 80 g to rotate the insertable/retractable filter holding frame 80 to the radially retracted position together with the second lens frame 6. Due to this structure, even when the filter drive motor 87 is not properly driven accidentally because of some kind of control error, the zoom lens 71 can be reliably retracted to the retracted position while preventing the polarizing filter PF and the insertable/retractable filter holding frame 80 from interfering with such elements as the AF lens frame 51 and the CCD holder 21, which are positioned behind the polarizing filter PF and the insertable/retractable filter holding frame 80 in the optical axis direction, upon the main switch 73 being turned ON.

The control of rotation of the polarizing filter PF when the polarizing filter PF is in the inserted position on the photographing optical axis Z1 will be discussed hereinafter. In the present embodiment of the digital camera 70, the user (photographer) manually determines the stop position of the polarizing filter PF by selectively operating the filter forward rotation switch 90, the filter reverse rotation switch 91 and the filter position direct-setting switch 92, while visually checking the object image indicated on the LCD panel 20.

FIG. 35 shows the operating status of the polarizing filter PF when the filter forward rotation switch 90 is operated, and FIG. 36 shows the operating status of the polarizing filter PF when the filter reverse rotation switch 91 is operated. As shown in FIGS. 35 and 36, under the control of the control circuit 75, the polarizing filter PF rotates stepwise and stops rotating at one of sixteen steps, which are predetermined at equi-angular intervals, upon the filter forward rotation switch 90 or the filter reverse rotation switch 91 being operated, respectively. The equi-angular positions of rotation of the polarizing filter PF are designated as intermittent rest positions N0 through N15, respectively.

Immediately after the filter forward rotation switch 90 is operated in a state where the polarizing filter PF is positioned on the photographing optical axis Z1, the filter drive motor 87 is driven in a direction to rotate the drive gear in the direction K1 shown in FIGS. 32 through 34 i.e., in the filter inserting direction. Thereupon, the filter holding ring 81 is rotated on the photographing optical axis Z1 as described above. At this time, the direction of rotation of the filter holding ring 81 corresponds to the clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 35, and is referred to as forward rotating direction in the following description. For instance, if the intermittent rest position N0 is set as a reference position, the rotating position of the polarizing filter PF changes in the order N1, N2, N3, N4, . . . N15 when the filter forward rotation switch 90 is operated. During this intermittent rotation of the polarizing filter PF, the control circuit 75 does not perform image processing on an object image obtained via the CCD image sensor 60 when the polarizing filter PF is positioned in between any two adjacent intermittent rest positions of the sixteen intermittent rest positions N0 through N15, and performs image processing on an object image obtained via the CCD image sensor 60 to indicate the electronic object image on the LCD panel 20 only when the polarizing filter PF is positioned in each of the sixteen intermittent rest positions N0 through N15. The photographer rotates the polarizing filter PF while visually checking the object images indicated on the LCD panel 20 by operating the filter forward rotation switch 90, and stops rotating the polarizing filter PF by releasing the filter forward rotation switch 90 upon a desired object image being obtained.

Operating the filter forward rotation switch 90 two or more times causes the polarizing filter PF to rotate forward intermittently by a corresponding number of times. Note that the polarizing filter PF can be rotated forward intermittently more than once by continuously operating the filter forward rotation switch 90 (e.g., by pressing and holding the filter forward rotation switch 90), just as in the case where the filter forward rotation switch 90 is operated two or more times. In this case, the polarizing filter PF is stopped rotating at the closest intermittent rest position among the sixteen intermittent rest positions N0 through N15 immediately after the photographer stops (releases) the continuous operation of the filter forward rotation switch 90. In either of the two cases where the filter forward rotation switch 90 is operated two or more times and where the filter forward rotation switch 90 is continuously operated, an object image display process is performed at a final rest position of the polarizing filter PF (i.e., at one of the sixteen intermittent rest positions N0 through N15 which is designated by operating the filter forward rotation switch 90). It is possible that a display image update process in which an object image obtained via the CCD image sensor 60 is consecutively updated not be performed when the polarizing filter PF is positioned at any of the intermediate rest positions by which the polarizing filter PF passes until eventually stopping. For instance, in the case of rotating the polarizing filter PF from the intermittent rest position N0 to the intermittent rest position N3 by operating the filter forward rotation switch 90 three times in a row, it is possible that the aforementioned display image update process not be performed when the polarizing filter PF is positioned at either of the two intermediate rest positions N1 and N2, by which the polarizing filter PF passes until stopping at the intermittent rest position N3.

The polarizing filter PF can be rotated reverse by operating the filter reverse rotation switch 91. For instance, supposing the filter forward rotation switch 90 is the only one operating switch for rotating the polarizing filter PF, it will be necessary for the filter forward rotation switch 90 to be operated many times or to be continuously operated for a long period of time when the polarizing filter PF is to be rotated from the intermittent rest position N0 to the intermittent rest position N15 or N14, which is troublesome and time-consuming. The filter reverse rotation switch 91 is provided for the purpose of improving the operability in such a case; specifically, in the case of regarding the intermittent rest position N0 as a reference position, the rotating position of the polarizing filter PF changes in the order of N15, N14, N13, N12, . . . N1 when the filter reverse rotation switch 91 is operated, i.e., in the reverse order to when the filter forward rotation switch 90 is operated.

However, the filer holding ring 81 that holds the polarizing filter PF rotates on the axis thereof only when the filter drive motor 87 rotates in the specific one of the forward and reverse rotations of the filter drive motor 87, i.e., in the filter inserting direction of the filter drive motor 87 as described above. If the filter drive motor 87 is driven in reverse, the filer holding ring 81 does not rotate, and only the insertable/retractable filter holding frame 80 rotates in the filter removing direction to move the polarizing filter PF away from the photographing optical axis Z1. To improve this operation, similar to the case where the filter forward rotation switch 90 is operated, the control circuit 75 drives the filter drive motor 87 in the filter inserting direction to rotate the polarizing filter PF in the forward rotating direction even when the filter reverse rotation switch 91 is operated. Specifically, with the angle of rotation of the polarizing filter PF per step of rotation thereof (22.5 degrees in the present embodiment of the digital camera) designated as Qv, the number of steps (reverse-rotation-indicating step number) for rotating the filter drive motor 87 in the reverse direction by the filter reverse rotation switch 91 designated as T, and the actual angle of rotation of the polarizing filter PF in the forward rotating direction designated as Qr, Qr is set to be equal to (16−T)Qv (Qr=(16−T)Qv) to determine the amount of rotation of the polarizing filter PF at the time the filter reverse rotation switch 91 is operated. In other words, the number of steps which corresponds to the number of total steps for one entire rotation of the polarizing filter PF (sixteen in the present embodiment of the digital camera) from which the input number of steps for rotating the polarizing filter PF in the reverse rotating direction is subtracted is set as the amount of rotation of the polarizing filter PF in the forward rotating direction.

For instance, if the filter reverse rotation switch 91 is operated once with the polarizing filter PF being positioned at the intermittent rest position N0, the polarizing filter PF is rotated in the forward rotating direction (clockwise as viewed in FIG. 36) by fifteen steps (corresponding to sixteen steps for one rotation of the polarizing filter PF from which one step is subtracted) as shown by an arrow Q1 shown in FIG. 36 to thereby reach the intermittent rest position N15. When the filter reverse rotation switch 91 is operated, the control circuit 75 does not perform image processing on an object image obtained via the CCD image sensor 60 when the polarizing filter PF is positioned in between any two adjacent intermittent rest positions of the sixteen intermittent rest positions N0 through N15 during intermittent rotation of the polarizing filter PF, and performs image processing on an object image obtained via the CCD image sensor 60 to indicate the electronic object image on the LCD panel 20 at a final rest position of the polarizing filter PF (i.e., at the intermittent rest position N15 in this particular example). At this time, it is desirable that the aforementioned display image update process not be performed when the polarizing filter PF is positioned at any of the intermediate rest positions by which the polarizing filter PF passes until it eventually stops. Furthermore, while actually causing the polarizing filter PF rotate in the forward rotating direction, the controller 75 can make the polarizing filter PF appear to the photographer (viewing the object image indicated on the LCD panel 20) to be rotating in the reverse rotating direction from the intermittent rest position N0 to the intermittent rest position N15. If the filter reverse rotation switch 91 is operated once with the polarizing filter PF being positioned at the intermittent rest position N15, the polarizing filter PF is rotated in the forward rotating direction (clockwise as viewed in FIG. 36) by fifteen steps as shown by an arrow Q2 shown in FIG. 36 to thereby reach the intermittent rest position N14. Thereupon, the aforementioned display image update process is performed. Likewise, each time the filter reverse rotation switch 91 is operated, the polarizing filter PF is rotated in the forward rotating direction by fifteen steps as shown by arrows Q3 through Q8 while the aforementioned display image update process is performed at each intermittent rest position. This control makes it possible to obtain the effect of making the polarizing filter PF appear as though the polarizing filter PF rotates in the reverse rotating direction by one step each time the filter reverse rotation switch 91 is operated as shown by hollow arrows in FIG. 36.

In the case where the intermittent rest position N0 is designated as a reference position, the operation for rotating the polarizing filter PF to one of the intermittent rest positions N1 through N7 with the use of the filter forward rotation switch 90 can be carried out easier than that with the use of the filter reverse rotation switch 91, and accordingly, only the arrows Q1 through Q8 that represent rotations at the time of rotating the polarizing filter PF to the intermittent rest positions N15 through N8 in FIG. 36, respectively are shown in FIG. 36. Nevertheless, it is possible for the polarizing filter PF be rotated from the intermittent rest positions N0 to one of the intermittent rest positions N1 through N7 by operating the filter reverse rotation switch 91.

Although the polarizing filter rotational control in the case where the reverse-rotation-indicating step number T in the above equation is always 1 (the polarizing filter rotational control shown by the arrows Q1 through Q8) is shown in FIG. 36, a similar polarizing filter rotational control in which the reverse-rotation-indicating step number T is made variable is possible. Specifically, when the filter reverse rotation switch 91 is operated more than once within a predetermined period of time, the controller 75 inputs this number of operations of the filter reverse rotation switch 91 as the reverse-rotation-indicating step number T. For instance, when the reverse rotation switch 91 is operated twice in a row, the reverse-rotation-indicating step number T is set to two. Thereupon, in accordance with the aforementioned equation, fourteen steps which is obtained by subtracting two steps as the reverse-rotation-indicating step number T from sixteen steps corresponding to one rotation of the polarizing filter PF are determined as the amount of rotation of the polarizing filter PF in the forward rotating direction. At this time, as described above, it is desirable that the aforementioned display image update process be performed at the intermediate rest position (final rest position) at which the polarizing filter PF eventually stops, and that the same display image update process not be performed when the polarizing filter PF is positioned at any of the intermediate rest positions by which the polarizing filter PF passes until eventually stopping at the final rest position thereof. Due to this control, while actually causing the polarizing filter PF to rotate in the forward rotating direction by fourteen steps, the controller 75 can make the polarizing filter PF appear as though the polarizing filter PF rotates in the reverse rotating direction by two steps. Note that the polarizing filter PF can be rotated reverse intermittently more than one time by continuously operating the filter reverse rotation switch 91 (e.g., by pressing and holding the filter reverse rotation switch 91), just as the filter reverse rotation switch 91 is operated two or more times.

Controlling rotation of the polarizing filter PF in the above described manner can give the digital camera 70 an excellent operational ability, similar to the case where the polarizing filter PF is rotated forward and reverse even though the polarizing filter PF is actually rotated in the same rotating direction in either of the two cases where the filter forward rotation switch 90 is operated and the filter reverse rotation switch 91 is operated.

Additionally, the structure of the drive mechanism for the polarizing filter PF can be simplified with no loss of operability because the direction of rotation of the polarizing filter PF is limited to one direction. For instance, unlike the above described polarizing filter rotational control in the present embodiment of the digital camera, it is possible to rotate the polarizing filter PF forward and reverse in accordance with forward and reverse rotations of the filter drive motor 87, respectively. However, in the drive mechanism for the polarizing filter PF of the present embodiment of the digital camera, the insertable/retractable filter holding frame 80 rotates in the filter removing direction to move the polarizing filter PF away from the photographing optical axis Z1 if the filter drive motor 87 is driven in reverse. Accordingly, supposing the polarizing filter PF were to be rotated in the reverse rotating direction by a reverse rotation of the filter drive motor 87, it will be necessary to provide the digital camera 70 with an additional device which prevents the insertable/retractable filter holding frame 80 from rotating in the filter removing direction so that the polarizing filter PF does not move away from the photographing optical axis Z1 in a state where the polarizing filter PF is inserted in an optical path on the photographing optical axis Z1.

Alternatively, to make forward and reverse rotations of the polarizing filter PF possible, the digital camera 70 can be provided with two separate motors: a motor for rotating the polarizing filter PF and another motor for rotating the insertable/retractable filter holding frame 80 to insert and remove the insertable/retractable filter holding frame 80 into and from an optical path on the photographing optical axis Z1; however, such a configuration using the two separate motors results in an increase in size of the drive mechanism for the polarizing filter PF and complicates the structure of the same drive mechanism. Conversely, according to the above described embodiment, both the filter inserting operation and the filter rotating operation of the polarizing filter PF can be carried out with a single motor, i.e., the filter drive motor 87. Moreover, no additional stop device is required for preventing the insertable/retractable filter holding frame 80 from rotating in the filter removing direction so that the polarizing filter PF does not move away from the photographing optical axis Z1 in a state where the polarizing filter PF is inserted in an optical path on the photographing optical axis Z1.

The filter position direct-setting switch 92 serves as an operating device for directly designating a desired intermittent rest position from among the sixteen intermittent rest positions N0 through N15 in order to rotate the polarizing filter PF to the designated intermittent rest position. The position direct-setting switch 92 can be made as a space-saving switch if provided as an on-screen switch (touch panel) indicated on the LCD panel 20, or can be any type of mechanical switch. Upon the filter position direct-setting switch 92 being operated, the filter drive motor 87 is driven forward (in the filter inserting direction) by an amount of rotation corresponding to the difference in number of steps in the filter forward rotating direction between the designated intermittent rest position and the current intermittent rest position. Subsequently, upon the polarizing filter PF reaching the designated intermittent rest position, the aforementioned display image update process is performed. To reduce load on image processing, it is desirable that the display image update process not be performed at any of the intermediate rest positions by which the polarizing filter PF passes until reaching the designated intermittent rest position. For instance, in the case of rotating the polarizing filter PF from the intermittent rest position N0 to the intermittent rest position N6 by operating the filter position direct-setting switch 92, it is possible that the display image update process not be performed at any of the five intermediate rest positions N1 through N5, which the polarizing filter PF passes, until stopping at the intermittent rest position N6.

As can be understood from the above description, in the case of driving the polarizing filter PF by operating the filter forward rotation switch 90, the filter reverse rotation switch 91 or the filter position direct-setting switch 92, an object image obtained via the CCD image sensor 60 is displayed on the LCD panel 20 immediately after the polarizing filter PF reaches one of the sixteen intermittent rest positions N0 through N15 which is designated by operating the filter forward rotation switch 90, the filter reverse rotation switch 91 or the filter position direct-setting switch 92. An image processing circuit and an LCD-panel driver for this image display control are contained in the control circuit 75 in the present embodiment of the digital camera. Additionally, the control circuit 75 halts object image processing and an update process in which the object image displayed on the LCD panel 20 is updated when the polarizing filter PF is positioned at any angular position of rotation thereof except the sixteen intermittent rest positions N0 through N15. Namely, upon driving the polarizing filter PF, object image data is intermittently captured at specified angular positions of rotation of the polarizing filter PF to be visually indicated on the LCD panel 20.

More specifically, in the case of changing the rotational position of the polarizing filter PF one step at a time (at each intermittent rest position) by operating the filter forward rotation switch 90, it is desirable that the object image indicated on the LCD panel 20 be updated by performing image processing at each intermittent rest position as described above. In the case of rotating the polarizing filter PF in the apparent reverse rotating direction by operating the filter reverse rotation switch 91, it is desirable that the aforementioned display image update process not be performed when the polarizing filter PF is positioned either at any of the intermediate rest positions by which the polarizing filter PF passes or at the position in between any two adjacent intermittent rest positions of the sixteen intermittent rest positions N0 through N15, until the apparent reverse rotation of the polarizing filter PF is stopped, and that the aforementioned display image update process be performed only at one intermediate rest position at which the apparent reverse rotation of the polarizing filter PF is stopped. In addition, in the case of directly designating an intermittent rest position from among the sixteen intermittent rest positions N0 through N15 by operating the filter position direct-setting switch 92, it is also desirable that the aforementioned display image update process not be performed when the polarizing filter PF is positioned either at any of the intermediate rest positions by which the polarizing filter PF passes or at the position in between any two adjacent intermittent rest positions of the sixteen intermittent rest positions N0 through N15, and that the aforementioned display image update process be performed only when the polarizing filter PF reaches the designated intermittent rest position.

Image processing technology in digital cameras has been advancing, whereas the amount of processing data has increased by the rise of pixel density, and accordingly, the time necessary for image processing is far from negligible. In the above illustrated embodiment of the digital camera, upon driving the polarizing filter PF, the response to image processing can be improved by a reduction of the load on imaging processing because the aforementioned display image update process (object image data capturing operation) is intermittently performed. In addition, indicating the object image on the LCD panel 20 intermittently makes it possible to secure a sufficient period of time necessary for the photographer to visually check the effect of the polarizing filter PF, thus making it possible for the photographer to select a desired rotational position of the polarizing filter PF with sufficient time.

In this manner, a feature of the present invention is that the aforementioned display image update process is performed intermittently when the polarizing filter PF is rotated. In this display image update process, it is also desirable that the intermittent rotation of the polarizing filter PF be stopped in synchronization with the intermittently-performed display image update process. However, the polarizing filter PF can be continuously rotated when the display image update process is performed if the rotational speed of the polarizing filter PF thereat is sufficiently low, to an extent that the rotation of the polarizing filter PF can be considered substantially stopped because a slight change in angle of rotation of the polarizing filter usually does not change the polarizing effect of the polarizing filter largely. In this case, a substantial lag may occur between the state of the image indicated on the LCD panel 20 and the actual rotational position of the polarizing filter PF if the rotational speed of the polarizing filter PF is too fast, and accordingly, it is desirable that rotation of the polarizing filter PF be controlled to slow down the rotational speed thereof when the display image update process is performed.

Although the present invention has been discussed above with reference to the specific embodiment described above, the present invention is not limited solely thereto; various changes can be made in this specific embodiment. For instance, although the polarizing filter PF is used as an example of the rotatable specific-effect optical element in the above described embodiment, the present invention can be applied not only to a polarizing filter but also to any other type of rotatable specific-effect optical element such as a cross filter which changes the state of the object image when rotated.

Although the polarizing filter PF in the above illustrated embodiment of the digital camera is of a type which is inserted into and removed from an optical path on the photographing optical axis Z1 by forward and reverse rotations of the filter drive motor 87, respectively, the present invention can be applied to a non-insertable (irremovable) type of rotatable specific-effect optical element. In addition, although the polarizing filter in the above illustrated embodiment of the digital camera is of a type which is driven only in one rotating direction, the present invention can be applied to another type of polarizing filter which can be rotated forward and reverse.

The present invention can be applied to not only a zoom lens such as the above illustrated zoom lens but also a single-focal-length type of optical system.

It is indicated that all matter contained herein is illustrative and does not limit the scope of the present invention. 

1. An imaging device comprising: an imaging optical system including an image pickup device; a rotatable optical element which is positioned in said imaging optical system, and is rotated on a rotation axis extending in an optical axis direction to produce a specific photographic effect; and a controller which controls rotation of said rotatable optical element so that said rotatable optical element rotates stepwise in a manner to allow said rotatable optical element to stop at each of a plurality of angular steps of said rotatable optical element, and operates to obtain image data via said image pickup device upon said rotatable optical element reaching a rotating stop position of one of said plurality of angular steps, wherein said controller operates so as not to perform image processing on said image data when said rotatable optical element is positioned at any angular position of rotation thereof until reaching said rotating stop position.
 2. The imaging device according to claim 1, further comprising a display device which visually indicates an electronic image of said image data obtained via said image pickup device.
 3. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein said rotatable optical element comprises a circular photographic filter.
 4. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein said rotation axis, on which said rotatable optical element is rotated, is substantially coincident with an optical axis of said imaging optical system.
 5. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein said imaging device comprises a digital camera. 